What Is a Duvet Cover? And the Best Ones to Buy Now

What is a duvet cover? That’s the exact question a whopping 18,000 people ask each month when searching for bedding inspiration, so we thought it was about time we provided an answer. The word “duvet” apparently comes from the French word for “down,” and it’s a cover or sack that encases your comforter (the cover itself does not provide warmth). Although its origins can’t be pinpointed, the home good first became a household name in the 1970s when Sir Terence Conran began selling them at the Habitat shop in London. (The duvet was advertised as “the-10-second bed”—since you didn’t use a top sheet with it, you could make the bed faster). Nowadays, duvet covers are a simple way to change up your décor without having to replace your comforter. Plus, they make laundering a breeze. So we’ve rounded up some of our favorite duvets—from ruffled to printed to bloom-embellished. Scroll through to see our top picks.